[APP] Unify Remote Control - Control your Windows PC using your Windows Phone!

[oishiiunko]

Hey guys/girls.. so I'm a student from New Zealand, and I've just published my first Windows Phone 7 application. I've really enjoyed working on it and I'm looking for a little feedback and constructive criticism.

I've called the app Unify, and it is a remote control app for your Windows PC. I've tried to make it as simple and user friendly as possible. I think I have actually spent more time working on the interface than the code itself!

Features include:
•Fast and responsive touchpad with dragging support
•Keyboard with shift, control and alt keys
•Media controls with haptic feedback
•Direction pad with arrow keys
•Command shortcuts
•Lock, sleep and shut down your computer
•Can be used in portrait or landscape orientation
•Simple auto-discovery of your computers
•Pin your computer for fast access
•Automatically turns your pinned computer on with Wake on LAN

Using the touchpad:
•Pointer movements - either use short flicks or dragging motion to control. This system gives you the benefit of accuracy as well as making it faster and easier to move to the other side of the screen.
•Left click - just tap the touchpad
•Right click - tap and hold the touchpad
•Double click - double tap the touchpad
•Dragging - double tap and hold. Once the phone has vibrated, keep your finger down and move it around the touchpad to drag

More features coming soon!!

Please try out the app and website (which I also built from scratch) and comment below if there's anything I could add/change in the next version. The app and website can be accessed here:

www.unifyremote.com
​

 

[nobadnogood]

Pretty good!

The auto search works fine.　One suggestion, touch pad is too sensitive, I mean a very small move of on the touchpad moves the mouse on the desktop a lot. Keep up the good work!

 

[wpxbox]

Not able to download the software from your site. Download fails

 

[oishiiunko]

Not able to download the software from your site. Download fails

Sorry about that... I've zipped it to make the file smaller, so give it a try now: Download

 

[wpxbox]

Sorry about that... I've zipped it to make the file smaller, so give it a try now: Download

The App is super awesome, Love the commands section specially. A review coming up soon.

---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:00 PM ----------

All you need is to fix the mouse speed issue. It gets out of control.

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:06 PM ----------

Quick Question, In the Launch Commands > Do you manually find the list of Pinned Application on the task bar and then show it on the app ?

 

[oishiiunko]

The App is super awesome, Love the commands section specially. A review coming up soon.

---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:00 PM ----------

All you need is to fix the mouse speed issue. It gets out of control.

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:06 PM ----------

Quick Question, In the Launch Commands > Do you manually find the list of Pinned Application on the task bar and then show it on the app ?

Wow thanks! Your reviews site is great btw.

I agree about the mouse issue - I need to add some sort of acceleration algorithm to it too. I think the issue is compounded by different screen sizes as well. Which phone are you testing on and what is your PC's screen resolution? I might just add an option to scale the movement as an interim fix.

The pinned applications in the command list just simulates the shortcut keys to launch them: SHIFT + CONTROL + WINDOWS + <number> I think, doesn't get the names. Great idea though... I never thought of doing that. Not sure if it's possible to get the names - will look into it for future updates.

I'm also working on a multitouch scrolling system for the touchpad, works great sometimes, other times it just doesn't detect multiple fingers. If I can get this working reliably, I'll be sure to include this in the next update too.

 

[wpxbox]

We have the review up : http://www.wpxbox.com/unify-remote-control-wp-app-pc-control/ along with couple of suggestions.

I will try to get the video done also but shooting video to show both and app and screen is kind of difficult but will try. As of now I have used your video.

 

[oishiiunko]

We have the review up : http://www.wpxbox.com/unify-remote-control-wp-app-pc-control/ along with couple of suggestions.

I will try to get the video done also but shooting video to show both and app and screen is kind of difficult but will try. As of now I have used your video.

Fantastic! Thanks heaps.

Quick correction - you can right click by tapping and holding the touchpad. As long as you don't move your finger, your phone will vibrate and right click will be done on your PC. Same sort of thing with double click and dragging - double tap and hold then move (but keep your finger down) once its vibrated for dragging.

Also, would it be possible to link to the application website - www.unifyremote.com - on your review page, might make it easier for people wanting to download the server.

Thanks again!!!!

 

[wpxbox]

Done. Wasn't able to to figure it out. Any plans to support Windows 8 in future ?

 

[oishiiunko]

Done. Wasn't able to to figure it out. Any plans to support Windows 8 in future ?

Thanks. The server works with Windows 8, but there are a couple of shortcuts I'd like to add, such as the charms, settings, search etc. As for a Windows 8 client - I've been thinking about it... Need to buy some new hardware to test it though.

 

[Leapo]

The current touchpad behaves sort of like a touch joystick, and it's very hard for me to control properly

Any chance you could implement a setting to toggle the touchpad mode to something like a traditional laptop trackpad?

Edit: Found a bug. The touchpad doesn't work at all on my media center PC. Every time I try to use it, the cursor just shoots into the top-left corner of the screen.
Edit2: Tried it on another PC, same problem. So far that it's only working right on one out of three PC's. What's the deal?

 

[oishiiunko]

The current touchpad behaves sort of like a touch joystick, and it's very hard for me to control properly

Any chance you could implement a setting to toggle the touchpad mode to something like a traditional laptop trackpad?

Edit: Found a bug. The touchpad doesn't work at all on my media center PC. Every time I try to use it, the cursor just shoots into the top-left corner of the screen.
Edit2: Tried it on another PC, same problem. So far that it's only working right on one out of three PC's. What's the deal?

Thanks for trying it out. You can actually use it just like a normal trackpad by doing short flick movements with your finger and lifting your finger at the end of the flick.

Very strange about the corner issue though... Have you got any other software that might hook into the mouse running in the background? Does it do it in particular apps or even when your just on the desktop with no other programs running? Also which software are you using for your media center and which version of Windows are you running… might have something to do with that. Let me know and I will try to reproduce it so I can work out what is going on.

 

[bigdd15]

ui color is kinda strange in white theme

 

[oishiiunko]

Unify Server Beta Update

Hey guys,

I have updated Unify Server with a couple of tweaks, the main one is now you can adjust the touchpad sensitivity. This can be done by first downloading and installing the update from www.unifyremote.com, run Unify Server, and then right click the tray icon and you will see a pop out menu for the touchpad sensitivity.

There are more changes on the way, so let me know how it goes!

 

[Adamo Pinheiro]

Your app is beautiful, contrats.

The only complaint I have is the mouse behavior. Like someone above said, it looks like a joystick. I wish it worked more like a touchpad (meaning that if I keep my finger still the pointer should not move).

Keep up with the good work!

 

[oishiiunko]

Update - version 1.3

I've just submitted an update to Microsoft. Hopefully it won't take too long to get certified this time!

New features + changes:
•Optimised touchpad - now works like a normal trackpad with an option to enable coasting. Also smoother and more accurate with per PC scaling options available via Unify Server.
•Basic authentication - very basic password based security, should be handy if you have multiple users on the same network.
•Added settings menu - this can be found on the control screen as well as connections menu. Enables authentication setup as well as other options, including Windows 8 shortcuts (the Windows 8 commands are in beta and requires reconnecting to your PC to take effect).

Once the new update is available I will make public a new version of Unify Server to compliment it, which will unlock the new features. Thanks again for all your support and I hope you all enjoy the app!

 

[novinsab]

The application works great. I have left an actual review on the MarketPlace to Promote your app.

However, I think you can allow a free trial ad-ware version with full functionality and no time limit to promote the app in the beginning at least.

You can also add Zune controls such as showing the current track info and allowing its manipulation since most WP7 users rely on Zune as the default player.

If you need help figuring out how to show track info, I can help you as I have already created an app based on .Net that does this. You can easily use the code or link the app to your Unify Server software.

Thanks again

 

[Leapo]

Very strange about the corner issue though... Have you got any other software that might hook into the mouse running in the background? Does it do it in particular apps or even when your just on the desktop with no other programs running? Also which software are you using for your media center and which version of Windows are you running… might have something to do with that. Let me know and I will try to reproduce it so I can work out what is going on.

It might have something to do with Logitech Setpoint (Logitech's mouse software). Setpoint automatically changes my mouse cursor and acceleration settings when I pick my Logitech MX Air up and wave it around (it's a laser mouse AND a gyroscopic mouse).

Any chance you could fix it?

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
Software: Windows Media Center

 

[lucas.scott]

Thanks. The server works with Windows 8, but there are a couple of shortcuts I'd like to add, such as the charms, settings, search etc. As for a Windows 8 client - I've been thinking about it... Need to buy some new hardware to test it though.

Man this app is a life saver for me...it is on another level from any other remote app available in the marketplace. If you could add charms and settings shortcuts for windows 8...it would be that much better.

....it is a little strange looking with the light theme though

FANTASTIC work. Very excited for future updates!

Any chance of making a server for mac?

 

[broncogr]

Thread closed as this is a paid app